VTOL and other flying tips for Libardo Guzmans's Thunderbird-2  (FSX ONLY !!)
=============================================================================

V1.1, By Rob Barendregt

Please, read the following closely; it will save you a lot of questions and frustration why
some features do not appear to work :-)


History
-------
Since true VTOL operation isn't possible in MSFS, other then for Helicopter FDE's, I created a
gauge-based solution which, in certain stages of flight, overwrites the FS-calculated values
for things like speed, pitch, V/S, etc. with values calculated in the gauge.
This is a variant of that gauge, specially tweaked for this Thunderbird, and includes some other
stuff like smoke effect control, Exit control, groundhandling control, etc.


How to set the proper view in the Virtual Cockpit
-------------------------------------------------
To obtain the most realistic view in the VirtualCockpit, a new Pilot's view (Camera-8)
has been defined, that greatly reduces the MomentumEffect ("Dynamic head moving", that
is far too exagerated for my VTOL solution in the default VC view).
So this won't affect your default VirtualCockpit settings (standard camera.cfg file).

You can easily see this difference by selecting either the VirtualCockpit or Pilot
view from the menu.
To select this "Pilot" view via a "hotkey", you have to define an unused keystroke or controller
button to the "View Camera 8" function of FSX.
You can do this as follows:
- From the FSX menu, select Options-Settings-Controls", tab Buttons/Keys.
- Scroll to function "View Camera 8", and assign an unused keystroke to that.
  Suggestion: use "Control-F9", which is unassigned in the default FSX assignments.
  So to go to the VirtualCockpit, use "Control-F9" instead of "F9"


How to taxi ....
----------------
- Make sure the engines are started.
- Release the ParkingBrakes.
- With your Elevator control (stick forward/backward) you control groundspeed (forward and backward).
- With your Rudder control (or Aileron control if you have the FS'AutoRudder function enabled) you
  control turns (forward only).


How to do a vertical take-off and hover
---------------------------------------
- Set the Parking Brakes.
- Set flaps DOWN (default key: F8 )
- With the stick centered, apply throttle.
- At N1> 70% the aircraft will lift of vertically.
- With the stick (Elevator/Ailerons) you control pitch and bank attitude, and therewith fore/aft and
  lateral speed.
- With Rudder (pedals or keyboard commands), you control heading.
- To hover, reduce throttle a bit. With stick/rudder centered, and N1 around 70%, the aircraft will be
  in a stable, zero airspeed hover (at zero wind).
- To transition to normal flight, simply set flaps UP (default key: F4). The aircraft will accelerate,
  and at 200 Knots IAS the gauge control switches off.


How to do a Launch
------------------
- Taxi your aircraft to a position where it has a pitch-up attitude; e.g. just below the top 
  of a small hill.
- Set the Parking Brakes.
- Set flaps UP, and apply full throttle.
- When the engines are spooled up, the aircraft will launch (same as when you change
  from VTOL/hover to normal flight).


How to do a vertical landing
----------------------------
- From a cruise flight, reduce throttle and around 200-300 Knots, set flaps DOWN.
- Then hover to the landing spot, using stick, rudder and throttle.
- DON'T try a normal landing; you will almost certainly crash the aircraft :-)
- Note: the Thunderbird2 has no retractable gear.


How to use the defined Camera's
-------------------------------
As explained above, use the Views-Viewmode-Cockpit-Pilot camera to fly in the Virtual Cockpit.
Other defined Camera's:
- Tailplane (Camera 7): Views-Viewmode-Outside-Tailplane.
- Landing (Camera 6): Views-Viewmode-Outside-Landing. Use this to help with vertical landings.
- Bay (Camera 5): Views-Viewmode-Cockpit-Bay, to view the inside of the bay.


Other special things to watch
-----------------------------
- At sufficient throttle, you'll see smoke/fire effects coming from the 4 nozzles (Flaps DOWN) or
  rear exhausts (Flaps UP)
- Sonic Boom sound and effect when going through Mach-1.
- When parked on the ground, you can open the bay with ToggleExit (default key: Shift-E), and the
  moll will drive out. Use the Bay view here :-)
- When the moll has stopped: start drilling with ToggleTailhook (default key: Shift-T)
- To Extend/Retract the LandingLights: use WaterRudder (default key: Control-W)


*** VERY IMPORTANT NOTES ***
============================
To prevent unexpected behaviour (like spontaneous takeoff with bay opened, or opening the bay in
the air, the gauge has some protections built in:
- On the ground, with ParkingBrakes Off, the throttles are forced to Idle.
- The ParkingBrakes are auto-released after liftoff (VTOL-mode) and after engine spoolup (Launch-mode).
- In the air, the ParkingBrakes, Exit (bay) and Tailhool are forced Off.
- On the ground, the Exit can only be opened when the ParkingBrakes are set.
- When the Exit is not fully closed, the ParkingBrakes are forced On.
- The Tailhook (moll drilling) can only be extended if the Exit is fully opened.
- The Exit can only be closed if Tailhook is fully retracted.
- A Launch on a flat runway will not work; in general, if the aircraft reaches 200 Knots while still
  on the ground, the Launch is aborted and the aircraft will stop.
- When you are in VTOL/Launch mode, the Autopilot is forced Off.
- Lastly: when you load the aircraft in a flight where the ParkingBrakes are Off, make sure that
  your joystick/yoke is centered; otherwise the TB2 will start to roll after loading.
  To prevent this, immediately set the ParkingBrakes after loading (if not set allready).  


Enjoy .....

Rob Barendregt
[email protected]